SPOTLIGHT: Governor proposes $40 million for Cole Hall replacement

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that he is introducing emergency state legislation that would provide Northern Illinois University with $40 million to demolish Cole Hall and replace it with a facility to be named Memorial Hall.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that he is introducing emergency state legislation that would provide Northern Illinois University with $40 million to demolish Cole Hall and replace it with a facility to be named Memorial Hall.

Blagojevich said he is cautiously optimistic that the legislation would move quickly so work can be done quickly. If all goes according to plan, Cole Hall would be demolished in late spring. A groundbreaking then could happen by spring 2009 with occupancy by December 2010.

A statue or some green space would serve as a memorial where Cole Hall is now.

University President John Peters said it’s unclear where the new building will go, but it will be centrally located on the campus. Peters said the school had hoped to demolish Cole Hall anyway because of its age.

Students are having mixed reactions. Most say they wouldn’t ever want to have class at Cole Hall again, but tearing down the building would be a painful reminder of the Feb. 14 shootings that killed six people including the gunman.

Rockford Register Star

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